Snow, viral igloo fallout, and Cape fire top today’s Boston-area news

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Boston, MA — February 17, 2026 — Light snow returns midweek, a viral South Boston igloo is destroyed by vandals, and a Cape home fire leaves a pet dead.


Boston, MA — February 17, 2026 — Light snow is back in the forecast, a South Boston backyard igloo that went viral has been smashed by vandals, and Cape firefighters are probing a house fire that left one pet dead.

Midweek system brings more snow to Greater Boston

Boston is staring down another round of wintry weather this week, with forecasters tracking several chances for light snow and a wintry mix. A weak disturbance is expected to swing through on Tuesday with scattered snow showers and pockets of freezing drizzle, mainly during the morning. Any accumulation around the city should be minor, with just a light coating possible in spots.

Attention then shifts to Wednesday, when a stronger stripe of precipitation is forecast to pass across southern New England. Forecasters say temperatures will start out relatively mild, so many communities could see rain at first before cooling air flips the moisture to snow later in the day and evening. Boston itself is currently projected to land in the lower end of the snow ranges, with a coating to a couple of inches most likely, while interior areas north and west could see more substantial totals.

Commuters are being urged to monitor updated forecasts, especially for Wednesday afternoon and night. Even modest snowfall on top of melting-and-refreezing side streets could create slick patches for drivers and pedestrians.

South Boston’s viral igloo destroyed by vandals

A towering backyard igloo in South Boston that drew tens of millions of views on social media has been largely destroyed after apparent vandalism. The structure, built over nearly two weeks by a group of roommates using homemade ice blocks, had become a local bright spot in an otherwise gray winter.

According to the builder, neighbors reported seeing two men enter the yard and attack the igloo with sledgehammers and metal poles while the residents were away at work. By the time the owners returned, much of the 12-foot-wide, eight-foot-tall ice dome had collapsed, leaving broken chunks scattered across the yard.

The group has said they do not currently plan to file a police report and are instead focusing on the community that formed around the project. They describe the remains as more of a winter “conversation pit” now, and plan one last small gathering inside what is left before warmer weather finishes it off.

North Falmouth home engulfed; investigation continues

Down the Cape, firefighters in Falmouth are investigating a fast-moving fire that tore through a single-family home on North Falmouth Highway. Crews responded shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday to find heavy flames consuming much of the structure.

Officials say no people were hurt in the blaze, but at least one household pet died. The house suffered significant damage before firefighters were able to bring the flames under control. The cause remains under investigation, and local authorities have not yet released an estimate of the damage or a timeline for when the scene will be fully cleared.

Residents in Greater Boston headed to the Cape this week are being advised to watch for any residual emergency activity or detours in the North Falmouth area as investigators continue their work on the site.

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